Paddy's Market warehouse fire causes $1 million in damage

CLARINGTON -- An electrical fire in the warehouse of Paddy's Market on the weekend caused $1 million in damage to appliances and an RV parked inside the warehouse and plugged in.

"We're investigating a link between the building's electrical and the motorhome," deputy fire chief Mark Berney told council on Monday, Feb. 4.

Fire crews were called to the well-known Hampton business, which sells appliances, at 3:17 p.m. on Feb. 3. Upon arrival, firefighters were confronted with heavy smoke from the fire, which started in the western part of a warehouse located behind the main Paddy's commercial building at 2212 Taunton Rd.

All five fire stations, with 41 firefighters and 12 vehicles, were involved in battling the blaze. Water had to be shuttled by five tankers to the rural site, which does not have fire hydrants.

Firefighters were on scene until 11:30 p.m.

"They did an amazing job," said owner Jed McKeen. "I know it was quite a mess. It looked like it couldn't be put out, the amount of smoke."

Mr. McKeen was out of town when he got the call that the business warehouse was on fire. It was still burning by the time he got home.

Fortunately for Mr. McKeen the fire didn't affect the store, and the business has been open and making deliveries this week, although inventory is now being delivered directly from the manufacturer rather than Paddy's warehouse.

Most of the fire occurred in Mr. McKeen's personal part of the warehouse, where his 2007 motorhome was all packed up and ready for a trip to Florida this week. Mr. McKeen won't be taking that trip after all, as he deals with the aftermath of the fire.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing, but Mr. McKeen said it looks like it started in the motorhome's refrigerator.

"I want to thank the firefighters and the community for supporting us," said Mr. McKeen. "Fifty-one years in business ... We're no strangers to little hiccups."